“Of course I do. That’s why I’m here. But you don’t seem to understand that,” he said frustrated.
“Then I need you to do something for me,” Roy said.
“Anything, Roy. You just name it,” Ethan said. He meant it too.
Roy looked him straight in the eye and said, “Go to her.”
“What?”
“Go to Kollette. What the two of you have is worth saving,” Roy said. “You leave dealing with Mr. Sommers to me and Mabel.”
“But…”
“Ethan, do you think this is the first time someone wanted to buy this place?” Roy asked.
He had never thought about it. “I hate doing this. I should be here helping,” Ethan said. Roy might believe he could handle it, but Ethan knew better.
Mabel said, “This is our land. It’s our fight. But if you care about Kollette like we think you do, then what you need to do is go and fight for her. Maybe she is the home you have been searching for all these years.”
He did care about her, but she wanted nothing to do with him. “Mabel, I screwed things up with her. She doesn’t want to see me. And I don’t blame her.”
Mabel shook her head. “Ethan, I’m going to tell you something that you’re not going to like.”
You won’t be the first.
“That I’m an ass?” he asked.
“I would never call you such a thing,” Mabel said shocked. “What I was going to say is that I know what you’re afraid of.”
“I’m not afraid of anything,” he replied firmly.
“Really? Because I believe you’re afraid of being happy,” she said.
Ethan laughed. “I am happy,” he said.
Mabel crossed her arms. “You know darn well what I’m talking about. I’m talking about what me and Roy have.”
“I don’t think anyone has that. I know my parents sure as hell didn’t,” he said. Although he had to admit, his brothers seemed to have found something close.
“This takes years of practice, and a lot of forgiveness,” Roy said. “But my Mabel makes it look simple. Guess that’s because loving her is just that. Easy to do.”
“Love usually is when it’s with the right person.” Mabel leaned over and kissed Roy.
Kollette might be the right person for him, but was he for her? He’d made her cry once, and that was one time too many. He couldn’t bear it if he hurt her again. But they were right about one thing, he needed to apologize again.
He changed the subject and tried one more time. “Are you sure you don’t want my help?” he asked.
The look on their faces said it all. And Mabel replied, “I have all the help I need right here.”
Ethan got up and said, “Then I guess I’ll get going.”
“Going to Kollette?” Mabel asked.
“I have a feeling if I don’t, you won’t ever welcome me back here again,” he said jokingly.
“Nonsense. You’re always welcome. We’d just be happier if you came with her, that’s all,” Mabel said. “I kind of liked having her help me in the kitchen.”
Ethan smiled and gave Mabel a hug. “You’re impossible, but I love you anyway.”